Universal-joint coupling



(No Model.)

G. SHUMAN.

, UNIVERSAL JOINT. GOUPLING.

. Patented Feb. 13, 1883.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SHUMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

UNIVERSAL-.JOINT-QOUPLING.

SPECIFIGATIQN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 272,339, dated February13, 1853.

Application filed August 19, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES SHUMAN, a citizenof the United States, residing in the city of Rockford, county ofWinnebago, and State of Illinois, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Universal-Joint Ooup lings, of which the followingis aspecification.

My invention relates to uniaversal-joint couplings employed mainly inconnecting shafting out of line or tumbling-rods to thrashing-ma chines,and other like purposes requiring a flexible connection; and its objectis to produce a safety universal-joint coupling of reliable constructionat a small cost. To this end I have designed and constructed thecoupling represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- V Figureits an isometrical representation of myimproved coupling. Fig. 2is alongitudinal central section. Fig. 3 is an isometrical represen tationofone-half of the central connectingblock with the transverse bars inplace therein Fig. 4 is an isometrical representation of onehalf of thecenter block with the transverse bars omitted.

The shaft-heads of my improved coupling represented intheaccompanyingdrawings consist of the cylindrical portions A, of suitabledimensions, provided with an axial opening, B, to receive the endportion of the shaft. These openings in this instance are rectangular insection, adapted to receive the rectangular end portion, 0, ot' theshaft D. These shaft-heads. are provided with arms E, projecting fromo-ppos'ite sides of one end thereof. These arms are provided withtransverse holes F, to receive the end portions of suitable transversebars.

At H are represented like halves of a twopart cubical block of suitabledimensions to enter freely between the arms E of the shaft-- heads. Thecontiguous faces of these like halvesHare provided with semicirculargrooves I, crossing at right angles centrally over the face of theblocks, parallel with the sides thereof. The diameter ofthesesemicircular grooves issubstantially the same as the diameter-of theholes F in the side arms of the shaft-heads.

At K are represented cylindrical bars having a diameter such as tofreely enter the grooves I in the like halves H of the cubical block,and also the holes F in the side arms,

E, of the shaft-heads. These cylindrical bars K are centrally notched orgained oneach other at the point of their crossingin such a manner as tolie in substantially the same plane, and in such a manner as to producea lock to prevent endwise movement of the bars. These bars are designed,to enter the semicircular grooves I in the contiguous faces of thetwopart cubical block, as shown in Fig. 4, and the two parts of thecubical block, being placed together, embrace the bars, and the parts ofthe block arefixed to each other by means of screwbelts or, passedthrough holes b, prepared in the corner portions of the block to receivethem, and the projecting ends of the bars are designed to enter theholes F in the side arms of the shaft-heads.

In connecting the parts to produce the joint the bars are placed in theholes of the side arms of the shaft-heads, and the semi portions of thetwo-part cubical bloekare then placed between the side arms, one portionthereof in each shaft-head, insuch a manner as to receive the bars inthe semigrooves in the blocks. The heads-are then placed together insuch a manner that the bars shall cross each other at right angles,having their notched centers engage each other, and the bars enter thegrooves in the blocks. ln thisposition the parts are fixed to eachotherby means of the screw-bolts which are passed through the corner portionsor the blocks, producing a reliable safety universal-joint couplinghavingasmooth exterior, and in which I dispense with the outer annularrings and outer casings usually employed in producing safety-couplings.

In this construction I have placed the transverse barsin the same plane,which requires the central notching to be produced to the center;

as to pass each other in the usual manner; but in such constructionmeans must be employed to prevent endwise movement. These bars, however,may be so placed as to nearly pass each other, in which instance aslight notchin g or bending of the bars will serve to prevent endwisemovement.

I claim as my invention- 1. The comhination,with the transverse bars, ofa two-part block having its contiguous faces grooved toreceive the bars,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the transverse bars but they may be employed insuch a manner IOO fitted to preveutendwise movement, and with a,two-part block grooved to embrace the bars, of screw-bolts to connectthe parts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combinatiornwith the shaft coupling heads, of transverse bars toenter the holes in the side ears of the coupling-heads, and a twopartcubical block adapted to enter between the side ears, said two-partblock grooved on its contiguous face sides to receive the trans- IOverse bars, and fixed to each other by screwbolts to prevent endwisemovement of the bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES SHUMAN.

Witnesses:

JACOB BEHEL, A. O. BEHEL.

